© 2006 SeanDietrich.com

TIED DOWN TO A JOB
By Sean Dietrich

YOU ARE WHAT YOU DO
What is it about Americans and work? We Westerners somehow tie our value to what occupation we hold. But even more peculiar than that, we somehow attach our very integrity to 5-day workweeks and 8-hour workdays. American’s who don’t tie down these regular grueling hours are considered lazy and fruitless people. American’s are taught to think this way from such a young age, they are hardly even aware of their own philosophy.

The Puritan Work ethic as it is called, says that hard work earns happiness. The Puritans actually believed that the only way man could ever enjoy his happiness, was to suffer a bit. YUK!

DON’T BE A LOSER

The current American work ethic uses guilt to motivate us to labor. For many, working from 9 to 5 is simply guilt maintenance. After all, no one wants to be a “loser.”

Even if they can afford to be one.

People don’t look affectionately at sporadic workers. The real “heroes” in our culture are the men who tie down 80 hour per week jobs, and keep slaving away until they die. How twisted is that?

I CAN DO IT ON MY OWN THANKS!

Most people will tell you very with no trouble the reason why they work. “I work to pay the bills.” Or “I work to put food on the table.” If asked where their supply comes from, they will easily tell you it comes from their ability to work. While this sounds true, and even biblical, it cuts God out of the picture altogether.

The ridiculous idea that “I myself” provide for my family, or “I myself” pay the bills is insanity. True, I am capable of doing these things on my own, but so is God. God wants to do these things for his people. “He” wants to take care of us as He promised he would.

For me, I’ve found that the correct way to work is to do what God says. Remember, the disciples laid their nets down. What guts! Jesus Himself ceased carpentry work to do the will of the Father. What boldness! We should do the same.

FOLLOW, TRUST, DON’T WORRY

We are to follow Jesus wholeheartedly and forsake mammon wholeheartedly. This doesn’t mean quit your job, but it does mean to trust Jesus. Only God can reveal to you how to do this, so seek His heart on the matter. He’s so coo
l.